Portable elevator



Jan. 19, 1932. C, EVENSEN 1,841,525

PORTABLE ELEVATOR Filed May 28, 1929 5 Shee-tS-Sheet l lel Y el lNvENToR WITNESSES 79x19 .Zfranwer ATTOR N EY Jan. 19, 1932. c, vENSEN 1,841,525

PORTABLE ELEVATOR Filed hay 28. 1'92 a sheets-sheet 2 kf-f L' I 'L'...-i 9 ,J7

ak -17/16 0159 aa ai 1, x9 .16 so INVENTOR wlTNEssl-:S 715,15 fwen,

eff/@ ALV# BY Mv@ ATTORN EY dan. 19, 1932. c. EvENsEN 1,841,525

PORTABLE ELEVATOR Filed May 28, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 'INVENTOR Clif/w Eerwe'n) BY ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1%32 CHRIS EBEN', 0F CHOTEA'U, MONTNA EORTBLE ELEVATOB Application nled May 28, i929. Serial No. So.

described and claimed.

`An object of the invention is to provide a portable tube containing an elevator' element which is attachable at either ot two points to a drive to either unload the grain of atruck into a granary or vi'ce versa.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hopper which is connectible with the truck to urnih a boot in which the elevator tube is merely stood to assume its unloading position.

Another object of the invention is to rovide' an elevato-r ot general utility in loa ing and unloading an almostunlimited variety of materials.

A further object of the invention is to use the elevator in what might be called a variable combination with the transmission mechanism of a truck, for which purpose the transmission is modified by the'addition of I' n l 2" a drlve extension to which the elevator elein the following description,

ment is attachable in either of two positions to secure the driving power for the elevator in either loading or unloading the truck.

Other objects and advantages will appear reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of atruck showing the improved elevator applied in position for loading the truck.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the elevator, the truck and a portion ot the granary from which grain is being loaded into the truck being shown in section,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the truck, a portion being broken away to show how the elevator is applied for unloading,

Figure 4 is a cross section of the truck showing the elevator in side elevation in its loading relationship to the granary,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the elevator taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross section of the elevator taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

' elevator it is borne to the elevator so that while in Fi fure 7 is a detail cross section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

' In disclosing the details of the improved in mind that appliances of this sort have customarily been used tor a multitude of purposes, but generally to transl, port a material from one point to another. In all instances of the use of such a device,

whether claim is laid to portability or not, the elevator is to some extent encumbered by operating mechanism so that considerably more than the mere essentials of an elevator are comprised thereby. The incorporation of 'such operating mechanism adds weight many instances the device is portable, yet there is the unsurmountable requirement of power to move it from place to place.

One of the outstanding purposes of the improved elevator is to provide a. device which is 'reduced to quently is so light' that by one man very much as one might carry a pick and shovel or some other assortment ot garden implements around from place to place. The main point in view is to adapt the elevator to loading and unloading grain into or from a truck or granary.' While this is the announced purpose of the device, yet it is not to be construed as a limitation as obviously the elevator can be used for handling an almost unlimited variety of materials. Y f

But with the specific purpose in mind, the transmission mec anism of the truck has been modified to the extent of providing an extension drive from which power for the operation of the elevator is derived. rlhe elevator is attachable to this drive at either of two points so that it can be operated with equal facility either for loading or unloading the truck for which purposes the elevator must necessarily assume definite positions in respect to the truck. With this brief introduction, reference is made to the drawings.

The elevator, generally designated l, comprises a tube 2 which contains an elevatorl element 3 (Figs. 5 and 6). This element comprises an endless chain 4 from Which buckets 5 are suspended in any suitable manner.

certain essentials and conseit can be carried about e This chain runs over sprockets 6 and 7 carried by shafts 8 and 9 adjacent to the inlet 1() and outlet 11 of the tube. The latter is rectangular in cross sectional shape according to the present showing, but it is conceivable that it might be of other cross sectional shapes without affecting the principles of the invention in the slightest.

A munter-shaft 12 is journaled in brackets 13 approximately midway ot the length of the tube 2. The brackets are permanently secured in position, hence the counter-shaft is fixed except for its ability to rotate in the brackets. For the latter purpose a chain l-l is applied to sprocket-s 15 both on the shaft 9 and shatt 12 so that the two shafts will turn together. This mutual turning is an idle function as it concerns the counter-shaft 12 when the elevator is employed in the loading of the truck 16 as in Figs. 1 and 2. At such time the shal't l2Y merely idles and performs no function in the operation of the element 8.

lower can be applied tocither shaft depending on how the elevator is intended to )e used. For such purpose each shaft terminates at one end in a fork 17 which when connected with the corresponding fork 1S of a j telescoping shaft 19 will complete aA universal joint. lVhen desiring to load grain from a granary 20 into the truck 16 as in Fig. 2, the shaft 19 will be connected with the fork 1T of the up er shaft 9. (ln the other hand, when it is esired to unload the truck into the granary as in Figs. 3 and 4, the fork 18 will be connected with the fork '17 of the countershaft 12. 'lhus it is possible to apply the driving power to the elevator element 8 at either' of two points` and when the driving vpower is applied to the shaft 12 it then becomes the function ofthe chain lil to transmit lthat power to the upper shaft 9 so that the Aclement 3 will be worked. As already indicated, when the driving power is applied to the upper shaft 9 the chain 14 and its appurtenances simply perform an idle operation.

ln order to conveniently take up the grain in the granary 2O the latter is equipped with a slanting discharge opening 2l (Fig.2) which communicates with a pit 22 of a depth lsufficient to bring the inlet 10 in registration with the opening 21 when the elevator 1 is stood in position as shown in Figure 2. Under this circumstance the elevator merely leans against the side of the truck 16, the connection of the telescoping shaft 19 serving .to hold the elevator in position.

When using the elevator to unload the truck as in Figure 3, the bottom of the elevater 1 will be stood in a chute 23 which is much in the nature of a boot into which the lower end of the elevator 'is inserted. This chute has a flangei2l which rests on the bottom of the-truck which is equipped with a hole 25 into which the lower rounded end of the chute is inserted to establish its proper position. The chute maybe temporarily held in place by a simple clamp 26 (Fig. 4) which 1 is applied to the nearest side of the truck. The chute will take a position about midway of the length of the truck, and the purpose will be to shovel the grain from each end toward the center where it will be received by an intake 27 (Fig. 5).

The rounded end of the chute constitutes a bearing for the tube 2. rlhe lower end of the latter is similarly rounded as clearly shown in Figure 5, and since the chute is of a flaring formation it follows that the tube will be capable of a limited rocking motion in respect to the chute. rthis facility will be an advantage in case it becomes necessary to adjust the tube in respect to the granary or some other point of discharge. r)The universal joints with which the telescoping shaft 19 is equipped compensate for these relative movements ot the tube.

The intake is adjusted in size by a door 28 which is slid by a rod 29. This rod is carried by one or more straps such as shown at 30, and the adjustments of the rod will be held by a` set screw 31 in one of the straps. The

' tube 2 and boot 23 actually comprise the elevator unit and while the tube and its parts alone function as the elevator when employed as in Figs. 1 and 2, yet the chute 23 is brought into play when the device is used as in Figs. 8 and Il. The tube 2 and chute 23 thus work together, although not always.

rl`he transmission mechanism 32 of thc truck 16 (Fig. 1) is modified to an extent sut- I'icient to furnish driving power for the elevator. The extension drive of which -the tclescoping shaft 19 is a part, comprises a counter-shaft 33 which has a clutch 34 and a lever 35 by which the extension drive is either started'or stopped. A. belt 36 applied to corresponding sheaves 37 and 38 respectively on the counter-shaft 33 and the base end 39 of the telescoping shaft 19 transmits the driving power to the latter. 'The belt 36 is of the V-type and is readily slipped from the sheave 38 and crossed when a reversal of the direction of the elevator element 8 becomes necessary in one of the loading operations.

A universal joint 40 connects the base end 39 with the nearest part of the telescoping shaft 19. The base end 39 is furnished with a suitable bearing 41 on the truck. The base end 39 remains in position on the truck, and ordinarily the telescoping shaft will be disv connected at its outer end and permit it to hang loose in the truck. But it is possible to disconnect this shaft at the universal joint 40 so that the telescoping shaft will not be permitted to dangle.

The operation'.

is readily understood. The elevator element 3 has shafts 9 and 12 representing separated points .at which driving power may be applied to adapt the elevator either for loading or unloading. These shafts have forks 17 to which the fork 18 of the shaft 19is connect: ible to compose a universal joint. To meet the needs of` the elevator the truck 16 with which it is intended to be used has a transmission mechanism 32 which is modified to provide an extension drive. rIhis extension drive can be joined with either of the two shafts mentioned as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

In the first instance the work to be done by the elevator is to raise grain from the granary 2O into the truck. It is assumed that the counter-shaft 33 of the extension drive (Fig. 1) is rotating in the clockwise direction looking at it from the rear of the truck. Since the belt 36 remains uncrossed at this particular time it follows that clockwise movement will be imparted to the upper shaft 9 of the element 3, looking at it from the position in Figure 2, so that grain can be raised from the pit 22 and discharged into the truck.

In the second instance the extension drive is applied to the countershaft 12 as in Figs. 3 and 4. The belt 36 must be crossed so that the clockwise turning of the counter-shaft 33 will be converted to the counter-clockwise movement of the shafts 12 and 9. Grain is shovelled from the ends of the truck to the approximate center where it is receive by the intake 27 and inlet 10 respectively of the -chnte 23 and tube 2.

lt must be understood that the elevator which comprises both the tube 2 and chute 23,

is easily separable from the truck 16. lt is not huilt in as a permanent ixture,

loading and unloading purposes it so combines with the truck as to constitute one mechanism. At such a time the elevator isv connected directly with the transmission mechanism 32 of the truck, and the transmission mechanism of the truck becomes the source of power for the elevator.

There probably will be many times when the elevator will not be needed.` lf its attachment to the truck were permanent the elevator would'become an encumbrance. But provision is made for this contingency. The extension drive can be released, and. when so released the elevator can instantly be taken od. At ysuch a time it will be re duced to its mere elements and since these comprise only a few parts it follows that the entire elevator unit can becarried around, the combined weight of the tube 2 and chute 23 being quite within the strength of a man to carry. Y

lt is not an impossible proposition, on the contrary one quite within the purview of the invention, to employ a driving appliance.

other than the extension drive of the truck 16 for the operation of theelevator. For inalthough` when used in connection with the truck for stance one might adapt a crank handle for connection with either fork 17 and delegate soule person to tend the turning. This is but another manifestation of the strict portability of the elevator. (lne might desire to use the elevator at a place inaccessible to the truck 16 and at such time it would be an inestimable convenience to be able to manually perform the operation without mechanical aid. 1 A

ln conclusion. the 'chute 2,3, or boot as it is variously called, plays :in important part in the combination. The tube 2 is inserted into the chute in the manner illustrated in Fig. l and the chute constitutes the main support for the tube when in this particular position. lf it were not for the chute the tube might topple over the side of the truck.

ln any event, the chute plays the important function' of holding the elevator tube steady. A workman inl shovelling grain toward the elevator from each end of the truck will probably be none to careful where he permits the shovel loads to strike.

lf the lower end of the elevator were simply stood upon the bottom of the truck without such support as the chute 23 affords,`a particularly energetic workman might throw the grain against the sides of thetube with such vigor as to knock it out of place, But by use of the chute 23 this will be impossible. The latter is not only clamped in place at 26 but is fitted in a hole 25 in the truck bottom. The position of the chute is thus established. ln practice any suitable cover will be employed to close the hole 25 when the truck is used for ordinary hauling purposes.

rl`he shaft 19 has been described as being' telescoping. rl`his qualitylias an advantage largely when the elevator assumes the loading position in Figure 2. rl`he truck 16 can be moved to different positions in respect to the pit 22 so that the grain could be distributed over the ent-ire truck bottom and at such time the shaft 19 would be let out in order to reach when the elevator takes a position near the rear end of the truck. rlhe shaft is equipped with a set screw shown in Fig. 3 so that it can be set at various positions.

rlhe shaft 19 thus becomes the mea-ns for keeping the elevator in position especially when used for loading as in Figure 2. Bear1 ing in mind that the set screw would be clamped down it is readily seen that the eleu vater will be prevented from slippingover sidewise. lflfhen the elevator is used as in Figure 3, the holding quality of the shaft 19 is not so important because then it is the chute 23 that keeps the elevator in position.

While the construction and operation of the improved portable elevator is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

.1.In combination with the transmission mechanism of a truck, an `extension drive operable thereby, an elevator comprising a tube adapted to be disposed outside of and inside of the truck in loading or unloading positions, said tube containing an elevator element, two operatively connected shafts, and means for connecting the extension drive to either of the shafts depending upon the position assumed by the tube.

2. In combination with the transmission mechanism of a truck, an elevator comprising a tube adapted to be disposed outside and inside of the truck, said tube containing an elevator element, two operatively connected shafts, an extension drive connected with and operable by the transmission mechanism including a telescoping shaft which is extensible and contractible, and means to connect eitherof the said shafts with the telescoping shaft according to the location of the elevator. v

3. An elevator comprising a tube, an elevator element contained by'the tube, shafts supporting said element oi"l which one is the operating shaft, a countershaft journaled upon the tube and connected With the oper atingl shaft, means carried by the operating and countershafts for making a connection with va drive means at either place, and a driving connection between said shafts for applying the driving power to said element when connection of said drive means is made with the countershaft.

4. The combination with a truck of an extension drive operated by the truck operating mechanism, an elevator adapted to be disposed outside of the truck or Within the same,

eounterlshafts mounted on 'the elevator inter- ,v

mediate of its ends, means connecting the said shaft with one of the elevator shafts, a telescoping shaft having one end secured to the shaft of the elevator which is connected-with the counter shafts and provided at its other end with a member mounted to turn on the is stood and is capable of rocking motion, and a telescopic driving connection between said operating mechanism and the elevator, continuously driving the elevator regardless of the variations in its positions.

7. In apparatus of the character described, an unloading boot to be mounted within a rtruck and attachable to a side thereof, said boot having a rounded end and an intake, and a portable elevator temporarily mountable in the boot, being correspondingly rounded to afford a turning bearing for the elevator, said elevator having an inlet registi-able with the intake in all turned positions.

8. In combination with the operating mechanism of a truck, a portable elevator for temporary use in conjunction with the truck said elevator having a lower rounded end, an unloading boot carried by the truck ha ving a correspondingly rounded end constituting a bearing on which the elevator is stood and is capable of rocking motion, and a telescopic driving connection between said operating mechanism and the elevator, continuously driving the elevator regardless of the variations in its positions.

' CHRIS' EVENSEN. I

truck, anda belt connecting said member with f a shaft of the extension drive.

5,. In combination with the operating mechanism of a truck having a hole in the bottom thereof, a portable elevator adapted for use inside of the truck for unloading, an unloading boot temporarily stationed in the truck and rested in the hole to receive and support the elevator during unloading, and means by which the elevator is then temporarily coupled with said operating mechamsm.

6. In combination with the operating mechanism of a truck, a portable elevator for .temporary use in conjunction with the truck said elevator having a lower rounded end, an unloading boot temporarily stationed in the truck having a correspondingly rounded end constituting a bearing on which the elevator 

